The Los Angeles Dodgers entered September looking for a fresh start after an awful two months of play, but the calendar change saw them reach a new low as they began the series with two straight losses to the St. Louis Cardinals.
But the ninth inning in the series finale perhaps provided that fresh start they needed with a walk-off win to avoid being swept and possibly hitting rock bottom.
Despite the win, the Dodgers still dropped the season series to St. Louis for the second straight year, going 2-4 against them.
The Dodgers were also without Shohei Ohtani for the final game of the series due to his continued injury issues.
Dodgers 3, Cardinals 2: key takeaways
Dodgers struggle with RISP before walk-off
One night after going 1-for-18 with runners in scoring position and ending the game with an 0-for-16 stretch, the Dodgers continued to build on their streak for much of the game. This time, the Dodgers went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position before the ninth inning, extending their streak to 24 consecutive at-bats without a hit with a runner on second or third.
They additionally stranded 10 runners on base, one night after leaving 13 runners on. On the bright side, the Dodgers didn’t hit into a double play — sometimes you have to look at the positives. Their first run was scored because of a passed ball, and they failed to take advantage of other gifts the Cardinals gave them.
But finally, things changed in the ninth inning.
Tommy Edman started a rally with a one-out single, then Mookie Betts worked a walk to put the winning run on base. But the Dodgers faced what has been their kryptonite: a runner on second base.
Teoscar Hernández, who has stepped up this series against the Cardinals, stepped to the plate and worked a 3-2 count while fouling off some pitches. He then ripped a line drive into the left-center field gap, allowing both runs to score, ending the hitless streak with runners in scoring position, and giving the Dodgers a walk-off win to avoid being swept.
Tarik Skubal hit around
Tarik Skubal held the Cardinals to just two runs, but he was not at his best, going just 5.2 innings and allowing 10 hits. He added just six strikeouts and walked one.
The 10 hits were tied for the most the southpaw has allowed during a start this year.
His first inning struggles also continued as he allowed two singles before recording an out to begin the game. After getting a strikeout, he allowed another single that gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
Skubal then got bailed out a bit on a line drive that was turned into a double play to get out of the inning.
He allowed the second run in the third inning, starting with a leadoff single to start the Cardinals off. After getting the next two outs, he allowed another pair of singles that drove in the run.
He continued to deal with traffic throughout his outing, but was able to keep them off the board. His night ended after giving up a single and walk in the sixth inning, and Edgardo Henriquez recorded a strikeout to keep the Cardinals off the board.
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